Consider a hypothetical example in which a patient has a condition in which she can expect to live only 2 more years on medications, with her quality of life reduced to 50% during those 2 years. With successful surgery as an alternative, she can expect instead to live 3 years with a better quality of life, 90%. Surgical mortality rate is 1% and the surgery is successful half the time. Using a 5% time discount rate, a student in health economics class correctly sets up the analysis.
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-If you calculate the cost per QALY using a discount rate of 3%,
A) you will get a higher cost per QALY.
B) you will get a lower cost per QALY.
C) you will get the same cost per QALY.
D) it will cost less to perform the operation.
E) it will cost more to perform the operation.

Question

Consider a hypothetical example in which a patient has a condition in which she can expect to live only 2 more years on medications, with her quality of life reduced to 50% during those 2 years. With successful surgery as an alternative, she can expect instead to live 3 years with a better quality of life, 90%. Surgical mortality rate is 1% and the surgery is successful half the time. Using a 5% time discount rate, a student in health economics class correctly sets up the analysis.
‪ 
-If you calculate the cost per QALY using a discount rate of 3%,
A) you will get a higher cost per QALY. 
B) you will get a lower cost per QALY. 
C) you will get the same cost per QALY. 
D) it will cost less to perform the operation. 
E) it will cost more to perform the operation.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Answer of Consider a hypothetical example in which a patient has a condition in which she can expect to live only 2 more years on medications, with her quality of life reduced to 50% during those 2 years. With successful surgery as an alternative, she can expect instead to live 3 years with a better quality of life, 90%. Surgical mortality rate is 1% and the surgery is successful half the time. Using a 5% time discount rate, a student in health economics class correctly sets up the analysis.
‪ 
-If you calculate the cost per QALY using a discount rate of 3%,
A) you will get a higher cost per QALY. 
B) you will get a lower cost per QALY. 
C) you will get the same cost per QALY. 
D) it will cost less to perform the operation. 
E) it will cost more to perform the operation.

Consider a Hypothetical Example in Which a Patient Has a Condition